Storm Warnings: Best Pratices provides timely information, trends and ideas that relate to
the looming storm and impact on our lives.
Issue 4, 2014
Realistic and visionary clean energy policies Best Practices Award: Weathering the Storm periodically recognizes organizations that
provide practical, effective, and quantifiable solutions for addressing the challenges of the
perfect storm. It is a privilege to present Fresh Energy as our Best Practices Award
winner for its outstanding work in shaping and driving realistic and visionary clean energy
policies that benefit all.
Mission: “Shape and drive realistic, visionary energy policies that benefit all.”
Organization: Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fresh Energy is a 501(c)(3) organization;
founded in 1990 and incorporated in 1992.
Fresh energy’s mission, value proposition and descriptive literature can be found in their
website. In summary:
Value proposition: Fresh Energy provides clean energy and transportation policy
solutions, advocacy, expertise, and sound analysis for policy makers and the people that
influence them. Their unique focus boosts the economy, creates jobs, promotes health,
connects communities, and preserves the environment for future generations.
Description of what they do: Fresh Energy’s overarching goal is to achieve measurable
progress toward a strong and prosperous Minnesota energy economy, while leading the
Midwest’s critical role in our nation’s transition to highly efficient clean energy and
transportation systems. To accomplish their goal, they concentrate their efforts in five key
areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation, built environment, and carbon
reduction.
How it works: Leveraging the science­based policy expertise and business acumen of
their staff, Fresh Energy shapes and drives energy policy by doing the following:
Translate widely held economic and environmental ideals into smart energy and
transportation policy.
Inform policy makers and the people who influence them, keeping them aware and
engaged.
Unify relevant stakeholders—business, faith, youth, and more—by defining
common ground and ensuring policies are visionary, yet realistic and grounded in
sound economics.
Communicate and advocate transparently and proactively about energy challenges
and solutions so policy makers and their influencers act from facts and sound
analysis—and with urgency—to grow our economy, protect our health, and
preserve our environment.
Track Record and Key Accomplishments: Fresh Energy has played a key role in Minnesota’s most notable energy successes and
the Midwest’s transition to highly efficient clean energy and transportation systems,
including:
Passing one of the nation’s best building codes in 1991
Publishing the first major report on the science of climate change and the potential
risk to Minnesota’s economy and natural resources in 1998
Doubling wind power requirements in 1999
Setting nation­leading renewable energy goals in 2001
Securing crucial mercury reduction requirements in 2006
Enacting landmark state energy efficiency and renewable energy standards in 2007
Passing a strong statewide Complete Streets policy in 2010
Passing Minnesota’s first solar energy standard in 2013
Passing the nation’s first residential charging rates for electric vehicles in 2014
Ways to engage, connect with, and leverage your efforts with Fresh Energy: There
are several ways to connect with Fresh Energy:
Sign up to receive
Midwest Energy News digest­­ Get briefed every day on the latest stories from
Midwest Energy News—the region’s best source for energy coverage.
Powering Progress­­Fresh Energy’s monthly email delivers policy news on global
warming, clean energy, efficiency, and transportation and land use. You’ll also get
energy tips and ways to take action. Current issue.
Notifications when it matters most—email notices of coming events and ways to
take action. Join Fresh Energy:
Fresh Energy relies on you and hundreds of others who care about America’s energy
future to continue their work. With your support, Fresh Energy will continue to make real
progress on policy solutions for the energy challenges facing the planet today. Become a
member today.
Take Action!
To help citizens engage where it matters most on shaping our clean energy future,
Fresh Energy creates “Take Action Alerts” that can be viewed on their website or
received via email
Come to an Event:
Fresh Energy posts events that feature Fresh Energy staff as well as events with
topics relevant to clean energy, efficiency, reducing carbon, and creating
transportation options.
Follow Fresh Energy online and on social media:
Website: www.fresh­energy.org
Facebook: fb.com/freshenergytoday {website
reference: https://www.facebook.com/freshenergytoday]
Twitter: @freshenergy and @nobleideas @MWenergynews [online
reference: https://twitter.com/freshenergy]
Information and/or resources available to audiences with easy access:
In addition to the ongoing updates on their website and social media be sure to check out
their publications library:
Energy Matters—Fresh Energy’s quarterly newsletter
Powering Progress—Fresh Energy’s monthly e­newsletter
Annual reports—Read about past successes and challenges and get a snapshot of Fresh
Energy’s financials
Weathering the Storm: Closing Commentary:
Fresh Energy is a shining example of a boots­on­ground organization that brings a
tremendous amount of leverage and firepower to the clean energy policy arena. Through
their advocacy efforts, abilities to muster coalitions, articulate and communicate policy,
provide invaluable information and take the message to others, they are, indeed, best
practice leaders. They provide a rallying point for like­minded citizens and organizations
that want to do more than just talk about clean energy and climate change. And so, to
Fresh Energy and their skilled and dedicated staff, we salute you! Follow Us on Facebook | forward to a friend Copyright © 2014 Weathering The Storm, LLC, All rights
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